Milan have denied reports in Italy that Mario Balotelli was fined after becoming involved in an argument with police having parked illegally at the city's Linate airport on Thursday.

Balotelli, who was collecting friends, was told to move his car by traffic wardens when he stopped in a no-parking zone. He initially appeared to do so, but, say reports, "he was only pretending", and immediately parked illegally again – leading to a "heated row" with two passing police officers.

Milan, though, say "normal checks" were carried out on Balotelli's car, and that "there was no argument" with the officers who challenged him.

Balotelli, who had a reputation in Manchester for repeatedly picking up parking fines, revealed last week what he would not miss about life in England: "The press, first. The weather. The food. The way you drive. That's it."